Grain separating machine



ZUB. CLASSWWNG, SEPARATlNG,

ASSORTING SUUDS June 17, 1941.

O. N. CHRISTOPHERSON 209. CLASSIF'YING, SEPARATING, fiiiiifif L ASSORTING SOLIDS J'FUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAIN SEPARATING MACHINE Ovie N. Christopher-son, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application August 30, 1939, Serial No. 292,649

2 Claims.

My invention provides an improved highly efilcient machine for the separation of various grains or seeds according to their thickness or transverse diameter and, generally stated, the

numeral I9 indicates a drum-like cleaning roller that rubs against the exterior of the separating drum. The shaft 20 of this roller I9 is loosely journaled in the pronged outer ends of arms 2l invention consists of the novel devices, combithat are projected from the brackets 8. This nations of devices and arrangement of parts cleaning roller I9 will be gravity held against hereinafter described and defined in the claims. the drum and will be rotated by friction and will Various kinds of grains may be thus separated, serve to press out of the slots I6 any small seeds the one kind from the other, or the seeds or that may be caught therein. grains of the same kind can be separated accord- 1o As a means for rotating shaft I3 and hence ing to their varying thickness. For example, it the drum I5, the former is shown as provided is desirable for some purposes to separate barley with a pulley 22 that is driven by a belt 23 that as follows: The thinnest seeds to be used for runs over a pulley 24 of a shaft 25. Shaft 25 is Steck feed; the neXt larger 0r thicker, for disdriven from a small electric motor 26 preferably tilier DUIDOSeS; and the largest O1' thickest fOr 15 through a variable transmission mechanism 21. the making of malt beverages such as beer. 'Ihe casings of the transmission mechanism 21 The invention is of such nature that a pluraland the motor 26 are directly mounted on the ity of rotary separating drums may be mounted reciprocating upper frame 1. on the same platform or support and simultane- 'Ihe upper frame 1 may be reciprocated by any ously vibrated. In the drawing, however, I have suitable means such, for example, as from an illustrated the invention involving Only a single electric motor 28 which, through the variable rotary separating drum mounted on a vibratory speed transmission mechanism 29, drives a crank platform or Support. and combined with means disc 30 that is connected to one end of the upper whereby the drum may be rotated at Variable frame 1 by a link 3|. As Shown. the mOtOr 28 Speeds and the Separating fre-me independently 25 and transmission 29 are mounted on a supporting reciprocated at different and variable rates of framework 32 that is rigidly secured to one end vibration. of base frame 5.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the Underlying the drum I5 is a plurality of reinvention, and wherein like characters indicate ceiving spouts 33 which, at their upper ends, are like parts throughout the Several VeWS 30 provided with pivotally adjustable wings 34. The

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the complete spouts 33 may discharge onto the iloor or to a machine, some parts being broken away; and point below the flooring, so far as the present in- Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken apvention is concerned. proximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. The longitudinal slots in the rotary drum are The numeral 5 indicates a base frame or ground 35 much longer than any of the grains to be passed support to which the lower ends of resilient links therethrough, so that the separation will be en- 6 rise from the four corners thereof and support tirely according to thickness. The slots in the a rectangular upper frame 1 with freedom for drum, in some instances, will be of the same endwise reciprocations. width in all of the sections thereof, but in other On the ends of the upper frame 1 are up- 40 instances, and,infact in most instances, the slots standing bearing brackets 8, in the upper ends of which are bearing boxes 9 mounted for vertical adjustments under the action of upright adjusting screws I0. These adjusting screws IIJ are swivelled to the bearings 9 and have threaded engagement at their lower ends with hubs II on the brackets 8. Also screws I0 are shown as provided with operating hand-Wheels I2.

Journaled in bearings 3 is a long shaft I3 which, by means of spiderlike heads I4, carry a long separating drum or cylinder I5. For the best separation according to thickness. this drum l5 has perforations in the form of slots IB, which, for a reason hereinafter stated, are preferably extended longitudinally or axially from said drum. The grain or material to be separated is adapted to be introduced into a hopper I1 that delivers into the upper and receiving end of the drum I5, and, as shown, is provided with a feed roller I8 driven in the usual or in any suitable way. The

in the sections, of which as shown there are three sections. will be progressively wider in the sections from the receiving toward the discharge end of the drum. In Fig. 1, the drum I5 is shown as made up of three sections by means of peripheral bands I5', and the perforated plates of the several sections will preferably be independently applied and hence independently replaceable.

Operation The operation of the machine, for example, in the separation of barley according to thiclmess will be substantially as follows: The seeds of different thickness will be introduced into the hopper I1 and fed into the rotary drum I5. The inclination of the drum may be varied by adjustments of the bearings 9, and of course the greater the inclination of the drum, the more rapid will be the travel of the seeds axially through the drum. Of course, the travel of the seeds through the drum will also be accelerated by rotation of the drum as well as the inclination thereof. The slots in the drum will Foe longer thaueie longest seeds. Preferably, the slots in the first section will be narrower than those in the second section, and the slots in the second section will be narrower than those in the third section. Under rotation of the drum, the seeds will naturally roll and assume positions longitudinally of the drum so that they will tend to freely pass through any of the slots that are wide enough to permit their passage. The narrowest or thinnest seeds will naturally be dropped through the first section, those of the next thickness through the second section, and those of the greatest thickness through the third section. Any material that cannot pass through the slots or perforations will be discharged at the delivery end of the drum. Even when the slots in the several sections of the drum are of the same width, there will be a tendency of the narrower or thinner seeds to pass through the first and second sections. but the ilnal graduation is produced by making the slots and the several sections progressively Wider in the sections toward the delivery end of the drum. Of course, the reciprocation of the drum longitudinally or in the direction of the length of the slots greatly increases the tendency of the seeds to pass through any slots that are Wide enough to pass the same.

As already indicated, the illustrated invention is such that a plurality of rotary separating drums may be applied on the same reciprocating frame or support.

The spout 33 and adjustable wings or blades 34 are preferably supported from the vibratory frame I so that they will take of the reciprocal movements o1' said frame and drum I5.

What I claim is:

1. In a separating machine, a separating screen, means for simultaneously imparting to said screen endwise reciprocating and transverse movements, said screen having elongated slots extended in the direction of its longitudinal reciprocating movement, the transverse movement thereof :being crosswise of the direction of said slots.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said screen is in the form of a rotary drum and the transverse movement thereof being in a constant direction.

OVIE N. CHRISTOPHERSON. 

